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GPRC continuing ed offers 148 new courses

GPRC’s Continuing Education department is offering 148 new courses and 17 new certificates this year, the college announced Thursday.

The department says the new offerings match the needs of local industries, and they ‘re aiming for training that will help people in entry level positions either re-enter the workforce or upgrade their skills for promotions and other jobs.

Some of the course work will be online, said Darlene MacDonald, director of Continuing Education, in a media release.

“We focused specifically on providing a more blended delivery of classroom instruction with online programming, so students don’t always have to commute to campus. Many people need that flexibility of doing something part-time and online.”

The college media release said its certificates lead to opportunities and “in a variety of in-demand areas,” such as digital media/marketing, human resources, management essentials, entrepreneurship essentials, project management and environmental monitoring.

Many of these programs are a result of partnerships with other institutions and training organizations, it adds. For example, a partnership with the PetroSkills Alliance offers various industry-approved oil and gas online certificates.

The community is invited to visit and learn about the department’s activities with a tour of GPRC solarium, which houses “the most efficient photobioreactor in the world,” according to a college press release. There will also be presentations from faculty, staff and students involved in research activities. Vans will be available to transport interested guests to GPRC’s National Bee Diagnostic Centre in Beaverlodge for tours.